The Institutes of Akbar 234: 13. Khan Zaman-i-Shaibani.

234

His father Haidar Sultan Uzbak-i-Shaibani had been made an Amir in the Jam war with the Qizilbashes. When Humayun returned from Persia, Haidar joined him, together with his two sons Ali Quli Khan [Khan Zaman] and Bahadur Khan (No. 22,) and distinguished himself in the conquest of Qandahar. On the march to Kabul, an epidemic broke out in Humayun’s camp, during which Haidar Sultan died.
‘Ali Quli Khan distinguished himself in Kabul and in the conquest of Hindustan, was made Amir and sent to the Duab and Sambhal, where he defeated the Afghans. At the time of Akbar’s accession ‘Ali Quli Khan fought with Shadi Khan, an Afghan noble; but when he heard that Hemu had gone to Dihli, he thought fighting with this new enemy more important; but before ‘Ali Quli arrived at Dihli, Tardi Beg (No. 12) had been defeated, and A. returned from Meerut to Akbar at Sarhind. ‘Ali Quli was sent in advance with 10,000 troopers, met Hemu near Panipat and defeated him. Though Akbar and Bairam were near, they took no part in this battle. ‘Ali Quli received the title of Khan Zaman. Next to Bairam, the restoration of the Mughul Dynasty may be justly ascribed to him. Khan Zaman then got Sambhal again as jagir, cleared the whole north of India up to Lak’hnau of the Afghans, and acquired an immense fortune by plunder. In 964, he held Jaunpur as Qaim maqam for Sikandar, after the latter had surrendered Mankot. In the third year of Akbar’s reign, Khan Zaman became the talk of the whole country in consequence of a love scandal with Shaham Beg, a page of Humayun, and as he refused to send the boy back to Court, Akbar took away some of Khan Zaman’s tuyuls, which led him to rebel. Bairam from generosity did not interfere; but when Pir Muhammad, Khan Zaman’s enemy, had been appointed Vakil, he took away, in the 4th year, the whole of his mahalls, and had him appointed commander against the Afghans who threatened the Jaunpur District. Pir Muhammad had also Burj ‘Ali thrown from the walls of Firozabad, whom Khan Zaman had sent to him to settle matters. Khan Zaman now thought, it was high time to send away Shaham Beg, went to Jaunpúr, and drove away the Afghans. Upon the fall of Bairam, they appeared again under Sher Shah, son of ’Adli, with a large army and 600 elephants. Khan Zaman, however, defeated them in the streets of Jaunpúr, and carried off immense plunder and numerous elephants, which he retained for himself.
In Zi Qa’dah of the 6th year, Akbar moved personally against him; but at Karah (on the Ganges,) Khan Zaman and his brother Bahadur submitted and delivered the booty and the elephants. They were pardoned and sent again to Jaunpur. Soon after, he defeated the Afghans, who had attacked him in a fortified position near the Son.
In the 10th year, Khan Zaman rebelled again in concert with the Uzbaks, and attacked the Tuyúldárs of the province. As soon as an imperial army marched against him, he went to Gházípur, and Akbar on arrival at Jaunpúr sent Mun’im Khan against him. Being a friend of Khan Zaman, he induced him to submit, which he did. But a body of imperial troops under Mu’izzulmulk and Rajah Todar Mall having been defeated by Bahadur and Iskandar Uzbak, (No. 48) the rebellion continued, though repeated attempts were made to bring about a conciliation. Having at last sworn to be faithful, Khan Zaman was left in possession of his jágírs, and Akbar returned to Agrah. But when the emperor, on the 3rd Jumáda I, 974, marched against M. Muhammad Hakim, Khan Zaman rebelled again, read the Khutbah at Jaunpur in M. Muhammad Hakim’s name, and marched against Shergarh (Qanauj). Akbar was now resolved no longer to pardon; he left the Panjab, 12th Ramazán 974, and Agrah on the 26th Shawwál.
At Sakit, east of Agrah, Akbar heard that Khán Zamán had fled from Shergarh to Mánikpúr where Bahádur was, and from there marching along the Ganges, had over-bridged the river near the frontier of Singror (Nawabganj, between Mánikpur and Allahábád). Akbar sent a detachment of 6000 troopers under Muhammad Quli Khan Barlás and Todar Mall to Audh to oppose Iskandar Khan Uzbak, and marched over Rai Bareli to Mánikpúr, crossed the Ganges with about 100 men, and slept at night near the banks of the river, at a short distance from Khán Zamán’s camp, who must have gone from Nawábganj back again on the right side of the river to Karah. Next morning, 1st Zi Hajjah, 974, Akbar with some reinforcements attacked Khan Zaman. Bahádur was captured, and brought to Akbar, and he had scarcely been despatched, when Khan Zaman’s head was brought in. He had been half killed by an elephant whose driver was called Somnat, when a soldier cut off his head; for Akbar had promised a muhur for every Mughul’s head. But another soldier snatched away the head and took it to Akbar. The fight took place dar ‘arsah i Sakráwal [in Badáoní, Mungarwál] “which place has since been called Fathpúr.” The Trig. S. maps shew a small village Fathpur about 10 or 12 miles south-east of Karah, not far from the river.
On the same day, though the heat was terrible, Akbar started for and reached Alláhábád.
Khan Zaman as a poet styled himself Sultán (vide Proceedings Asiatic Society, September 1868.) Zamániyá (now a station on the E. I. Railway) was founded by him. Though an Uzbak, Khan Zaman, from his long residence in Persia was a staunch Shi’ah.
Khan Zaman must not be confounded with No. 124.